Pit Dweller Extraordinaire

This post is for the "Bloggity Book Club". We have just finished reading Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore. I don't think that any of the principles in the book were earthshakingly new for me, but they were grounded in so much truth. That's what kind of teacher Beth Moore is - one that saturates you with God's word. Boy don't I love her for it.
I would have to agree with Boomama that I had a bit of an aversion to the word "pit" at first. Satan will use absolutely anything to keep us from seeking and finding the truth. I HATE him for it. I promise I do, even though I allow him to lead me to a pit repeatedly - like a realtor showing you through your new abode with all its amenities, "it'll feel so good here....you can set up a permanent home for yourself and your family.....this neighborhood suits you better........the lack of light allows for a certain amount of *ahem* privacy...." Certainly if we saw it so clearly this way, we would completely reject "the pit" - but as it is, we often go there much unbeknownst to ourselves until we come up out of the top as if we were scuba diving and lost our air tank several hundreds of feet down, gasping for breath.
One of the things this book helped me do was it helped me recognize the lure and symptoms of a pit. I have fallen into many - and dove head first into others. However, I loved it that in her usual "Beth" style, is she gives you real tools, almost like a step-ladder to help you out of the pit. Praying God's Word was another book she wrote that was extremely beneficial in my life, and she used the same principles in this book - giving an entire set of deliverance scriptures to pray through.
I also love the message that our pit cannot keep us captive. A pit is different from a jail cell in this - we can still look up to the One who is able to lift us out.
One of the most significant things I read, that gave me a lift out of the pit I am drawn to over and over again was in Chapter 8: Make Up Your Mind. The last two lines of the first full paragraph on pg 176 spoke directly to my heart: "Nobody has a right to keep you in a pit or to shame you for bailing. Not even your mama." I am going to be extremely candid - my mother is one of the absolute biggest "pitfalls" in my spiritual walk. I love her and am jealous for the portion of her heart that should belong to me - but found that the catapult I made out of the pit, and my absolute refusal in any way to even come near it to gaze in has caused a rift in our relationship. I was tempted to say "forever" or "permanent", but I do believe as Betsie ten Boom told her sister, Corrie, that they must tell others, "there is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still". God and God alone can save her from the blackness that surrounds her - just as He has rescued me. But it is a continuous pain, a heartache that tempts me to come near to the pit I once inhabited. With tears in my eyes as I am sharing from my heart. For far too long, I made my dwelling in the pit. I could not save myself from the generations of sin, bitterness and strife. I was helpless. The day I cried out for help, I met One who was able to save completely. I know that the principles our dear author shares in this book are true, because I have lived them.

Pit Dweller No More!

I am a frequent visitor at the blog of one, Boomama. One day while innocently visiting there, I read an announcement that she was going to be starting a "Bloggity Book Club". My first instinct was to RUN. I love to read books, and I love book discussions, but I don't have time, money, energy for another one right now, or so I thought. At the same time this announcement goes out, I hear that HSB is also starting up a Literary Club. And, (shameless plug) some friends and I are starting an Inklings book club reading C.S. Lewis and other Christian authors on a yahoo group. (See the sidebar to join us!)

At any rate, I digress.

I skimmed the post about the book club at Boomama's, learned that they were going to be discussing Beth Moore's new book Get Out of That Pit, and decided, nah. Okay, my first and most shallow reason for abstaining is that the book, being newly released would be in hardback only. I absolutely loathe hardback books, and especially ones that come with dust covers, even if cutie-patootie Beth Moore is on it. But, a week or so later, I was in Sam's club and saw "the book". It was only $12 which is very reasonable for a new hardback book, and when I picked it up, it just felt right. (not too heavy, nice paper) I know it's a weird way to examine a book – but reading is not just in the brain, it is kinesthetic and aesthetic for me as well. If the book feels weird, I just can't do it. I am certain there is medicine for this, however, since it is only this one little thing, I think I'll just allow myself to ruminate in this one itty bitty little quirky behavior. (Those of you that know me ITF "in the flesh" can keep your comments to yourselves!) Long story short - I bought the book.

All kidding aside, I just finished it, and while I'll reserve the majority of my comments for the discussion that I intend to participate in fully, I will share something that God spoke almost audibly, as if the words lifted off the pages and became sound – because I've been hurting in this specific way for a little over a week. On pg 176 was a statement that spoke right to my wounded spirit:

Nobody gets the right to keep you in a pit or to shame you for bailing. Not even your mama.

In context, Beth was explaining how some people (specifically family) get mad when you leave the pit of family dysfunction and seek to live life in the freedom that comes from Jesus Christ. I know what she means – boy, do I know.